Title: Jackbox Party Pack 1 & 2
Available On: Nintendo Switch, PC, Xbox One, PlayStation 4
Developer: Jackbox Games
Publisher: Jackbox GamesÂ
Genre: Party, Multiplayer
Official Site:Â Jackbox Party Pack 1 & 2Â
Release Date: August 17th, 2017
Where to Buy: Steam, Nintendo eShop ($24.99)
When I think of video game party games, Mario Party is exactly what comes to mind. I’ve never come across a video game similar to it that I enjoyed as much as that. At least until I started playing the Jackbox Party Pack. This is the perfect game to play with the whole family; gamers and non-gamers alike. With word games, trivia games, and much, much more, Jackbox is a great addition to your Switch library.
For the Jackbox Party Pack 1 & 2, you don’t actually play the game on the Switch. Everyone participating will actually play on their own smartphones, tablets, or computers while the Switch displays the questions for everyone to see. After one of the 10 games (5 on the first party pack and 5 on the second) are chosen, players will enter their name along with a room code shown on the screen. This room code connects all of the devices to the same game, which is pretty cool!
Jackbox Party Pack includes You Don’t Know Jack 2015, Fibbage XL, Drawful, Word Spud, and Lie Swatter. Fibbage XL and Drawful were hands down my favorites in this specific party pack. Fibbage XL gives your group the beginning of a fact and then allows everyone to submit an answer of your own. The objective is to fool your fellow players from choosing the correct answer. (As terrible as I was at this game, it was a blast!) Drawful is a lot like Pictionary with the added difficulty of having to draw on your smartphones. You Don’t Know Jack 2015 is a comedic trivia game while Lie Swatter challenges you to guess the validity of absurd facts. Word Spud is well-renown for being the least favorite game of the pack, forcing players to string together words.
Another edition of Fibbage is featured in the Jackbox Party Pack 2 along with Earwax, Bidiots, Quiplash XL, and Bomb Corp. Earwax gives you a category and you must put the two best sounds together to represent that category. Bidiots is an art auctioning game, and Bomb Corp. allows you to diffuse a bomb with your friends. Quiplash XL was the best, and most hilarious, game in the second edition of the Jackbox Party Pack. This mini-game gives you a phrase or a question, and you must provide the best answer. The other players, and your potential audience members, can then pick what answers they like the best.
The main, glaring problem with Jackbox Party Pack is that you have to have other people to play. This is a perfect game for a party, or even better for streamers who love to interact with their audiences. However, if you’re hoping to play a light game with some time to kill, it won’t work unless you have some friends on standby. I definitely wish that there was some sort of online server set up to help you connect with other single players if you wanted to play when you are on your own.
Aside from that small complaint, there really isn’t anything else. The Jackbox Party Pack 1 & 2 are awesome additions to the Nintendo Switch. The portability and ease of the Switch really lends well to the party game lifestyle, making it even easier to bring this game to your friend’s get together or your next family gathering. Using your phone, tablets, and computers as controllers make it much easier for those who don’t normally game to get involved as well, truly making this the perfect party game!
Jackbox Games now has four different party packs available with all sorts of wildly hilarious party games for everyone. They have been releasing these party packs since 2015 on consoles and mobile devices, but they have come to the Switch this past year. All in all, this is a fun set of games to play with anyone and everyone you might know! It’s a great game to begin streaming with as well.
What is your favorite Jackbox Party Pack game? Which one is your favorite pack overall? Let us know in the comments below, and make sure to keep an eye on The Nerd Stash for all of your nerdy gaming and entertainment news needs!
Verdict: The Jackbox Party Pack is the perfect way to spend an evening with friends or the perfect game for streamers. With its diverse selection of games, there really is something here for everyone to enjoy from word games to drawing games. The only thing that would make it better is if there was an online server to connect you with other players if you wanted to play by yourself. All in all, the Switch version of this party pack is the perfect addition to any party!
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